Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Design
Abstract
The fashion and textile sector is a major contributor to UK GDP, but the global industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions and other negative environmental impacts, including generation of thousands of tonnes of textile waste incinerated/landfilled in the UK every year. With UK fashion consumption continuing to rise, there is a pressing need to develop strategy for sustainable transformation, which means first establishing a clear picture of the current state of the industry's full environmental impacts, particularly as it relates to the UK. This large interdisciplinary Network will determine how to assess, evidence, and monitor the sustainability credentials of current and proposed practices across the fashion and textile industry to ensure congruence with Net Zero targets. The work will identify the sectoral, disciplinary, technical, cultural, and skills-based barriers to transitioning to more sustainable practices, as well as those areas where specific interventions could result in the highest impacts, to decide where best to target future innovation and priorities. The Network will also take account of ongoing disconnects between design, manufacturing, retail, use and end-of-life disposal that contribute to environmental impacts. A robust, accurate and honest picture of the current 'baseline' position of the industry will be presented, from which the best strategy to meet Net Zero and other mandated targets can be based.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- SALFORD CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Textile Recycling Association (Collaboration)
- NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Leon (Collaboration)
- John Smedley (Collaboration)
- Nottingham Trent University (Collaboration)
- British Fashion Council (Collaboration)
- GREATER MANCHESTER COMBINED AUTHORITY (Collaboration)
- Matoha (Project Partner)
- UK Fashion & Textile Association (Project Partner)
- Yorkshire Textiles (Project Partner)
- Laxtons (Project Partner)
- A W Hainsworth (Project Partner)
- WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Prog) (Project Partner)
- W.T. Johnson & Sons (Project Partner)
- TD Synnex (Project Partner)
- Burberry (Project Partner)
Publications
Kesidou E
(2025)
Eco-Credentials in the Fashion and Textile Industry Assessment and Evaluation: A Review of Eco-Credentials, their Strengths and Weaknesses, and Recommendations for Improvement
in SSRN Electronic Journal
| Title | Public facing research findings poster at V&A Dundee exhibition of Design HOPES work |
| Description | We reported a few of the key findings from our 'people with lipoedema' survey on a large poster (easy-read, accessible poster written with a general public audience and our survey participants in mind). Key messages included awareness raising for lipoedema as a medical condition, compression garments being a useful method of managing symptoms of lipoedema, inaccurate measuring (during NHS consultation) leading to poor fit and utilisation of compression garments, and significant wastage of resource/money as well as treatment delays caused by ill-fitting compression. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | We have not measured the impact of this communication but are aware of significant visitor numbers to the exhibition. |
| Description | Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles (B2B) is one of three subnetworks within the Network Plus for Circular Fashion and Textiles programme. B2B is led by the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC), School of Design, University of Leeds https://www.leeds.ac.uk/leeds-institute-textiles-colour. Through targeted activity across five thematic areas that have been co-developed with industry and academic experts, B2B will start to establish research-validated baselines against which progress towards environmental targets can be measured. These five key thematic areas are: determine environmental target areas and create robust evidence bases; develop approaches for creating effective eco-credential standards; measure current/future progress in innovation; identify major skills gaps; and understand and influence cultures and behaviours. Project outcomes will be developed through themed academic research, and other projects (involving both academic and industry partners) to generate data and/or fill evidence gaps. Further project details including the B2B Sustainable Transition Fund are available on the B2B website https://backtobaselines.leeds.ac.uk/funding/. The B2B subnetwork brings together academic and industry expertise from across eight UK-based universities; Heriot-Watt University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, Nottingham Trent University, Royal College of Art, University of Huddersfield, University of Leeds, University of the Arts London; and two major national organisations; UK fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) and Waste Resources Action Plan (WRAP). LITAC also convenes the overall Network Plus Programme Coordination Team (PCT) working with the other sub-networks to coordinate activities. |
| Exploitation Route | Outcomes from across the Network Plus programme will be available through open access publications, the PCT Knowledge and Information Portal, conference presentations, subnetwork websites and social media activity. The B2B subnetwork aims to establish comprehensive, well-evidenced environmental and design baselines, standards and principles for the F&T industry. These baselines are strategically aligned with the goals of our partner WRAP's Textile 2030 initiative and will inform a robust decision-making process which will underpin sectoral transition to Net Zero. Dissemination is aimed at policymakers, funding bodies, academic colleagues and industry partners to inform future decision-making. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Retail |
| URL | https://www.ecotextile.com/2024030448300/news/fashion-retail/uk-announces-sustainable-fashion-funding-drive/ |
| Description | The project is still in delivery, but already there have been significant engagement activities that have stimulated collaborative work to fill data and evidence gaps. B2B has also targeted dissemination opportunities and collaboration within it's work plan. Two B2B events have already been delivered to a mixed audience of industry and academia; a launch event (09 February 2024) and a mid-term event (25 February 2025), in addition to broad sectoral engagement on the B2B Network Advisory Board. Workshops at both B2B events stimulated additional discussion around identified thematic areas which have led to submission of new research projects and the first follow-on funding has been awarded. B2B staff presentations at the UKFT Sustainability Conference (26 September 2024) stimulated extensive industry discussion and the team are working to raise the profile of the research findings nationally/internationally (i.e. Global Fashion Conference, 11-12 October 2024). Project outcome reporting from the first round of B2B Sustainable Transition Fund projects is being received and has already generated significant interest. In November 2024 B2B Co-Director, Prof. Phil Purnell, was appointed to the government's circular economy taskforce, which enhances potential for B2B outcomes to influence future policy. Examples of dissemination activity to date include: March 2024 TexIntel - news article on the launch of Sustainable Transition Fund Call 1. Back To Baselines In Circular Fashion & Textiles - The Sustainable Transition Fund Opens With £700k Offering - TEXINTEL Just Style - news article on the launch of Sustainable Transition Fund Call 1. UK fashion, textile sector offered £700k for sustainable transition (just-style.com) World Textile Information Network (WTiN) - news article on the launch of sustainable transition fund Call 1. Applications open for sustainable transition fund UKFT - news article on the launch of Sustainable Transition Fund Call 1. Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles: Sustainable Transition Fund opens July 2024 UKFT - news article on the launch of Sustainable Transition Fund Call 2 Back to Baselines: New call opens for Sustainable Transition Fund for UK fashion and textiles September 2024 UKFT - video of Steve Russell presenting at the UKFT Sustainability Conference 2024, talking about the B2B EPR projects. UKFT Sustainability Conference 2024: The visible fee project January 2025 Manchester Metropolitan University - A policy briefing highlighting the University's innovative projects on circular economies, including news of Back to Baselines and the various funded projects at MMU. Rethinking the Circular Economy Manchester Metropolitan University - article about sustainable and circular practices at the University, includes news of Back to Baselines and Liz Barnes' involvement. A circular future | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Retail |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Reya: Reuse Yarn |
| Amount | £53,271 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UKRI735 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Title | Narrative Capture |
| Description | Methodology developed is three stage: 1. A narrative workshop method was developed and used to capture qualitative data (lived experience and perspective of fashion & textile manufacturers - a methodology suited to a targeted but limited sample size). Post workshop narrative analysis then took place to identify the dynamics of individual narratives in their unique context. At least three narratives are then identified to inform stage 2 & 3 of the methodology. 2. Quantitative representation of selected narratives takes place. Identified impact narratives are communicated as manufacturing scenarios, these scenarios are then quantified to provide a data based evidence set for resulting environmental impacts. 3. Narrative Case Studies are then produced to communicate identified behaviours driving wasteful / unsustainable manufacturing practices and the quantified impact of these scenarios. Alternative practices that would reduce these impacts will be discussed. To support the qualitative data capture a workshop canvas for "Narrative Capture' was developed. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Provided a means to link industry experience and evidence in the form of qualitative data to quantitative evidence base lines which is providing a new multi discipline dimension and insight to the B2B T1 research. |
| Title | Innovation Matrix for Circular Fashion and Textiles |
| Description | The matrix is a tool populated with data collected by researchers on the B2B project, which allows scholars to assess how 'good' or 'true' an innovation is in reality. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The matrix is still in development but early testing has shown interesting results in terms of ranking innovations and showing how scholars and practitioners might take a more holistic yet evidence-based view of what innovation looks like in the circular fashion and textiles sector - and adjacent sectors. |
| Title | Overview of 155 certifiers and their ecolabels |
| Description | This research dataset compiles 155 stated ecolabels and certifiers relevant to textile apparel, sourced from the Ecolabel Index, Fashion United, and the Global Ecolabelling Network's 'Ecolabel Guide' app. Only active ecolabels with English-language websites were included to ensure accessibility and relevance. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This research dataset is included as an appendix in the publicly available report "Eco-Credentials in the Fashion and Textile Industry Assessment and Evaluation" (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14384238). The report finds that only 44 of the 155 proclaimed ecolabels meet the definition of an ecolabel, highlighting significant inconsistencies in the sector. Since its release, the report has gained notable attention, with over 350 views on SSRN and 89 downloads between 29/01-12/03/2025, demonstrating strong interest in the evaluation of fashion industry eco-credentials. |
| URL | https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5052003 |
| Description | Advisory Board Member of the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) |
| Organisation | British Fashion Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Invited member of the CFIN Advisory Board to disseminate on-going findings of the Network Plus research activities |
| Collaborator Contribution | Industry insights that are important to inform the development of the Network Plus research activities |
| Impact | This work forms part of the national initiative on circular fashion and textiles. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Back to baselines: study of end-of-life textiles in Greater Manchester' |
| Organisation | Greater Manchester Combined Authority |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Manchester Met staff (Prof Paul Hooper Science & Engineering, Reader Barbara Shepherd Manchester Fashion Institute and students) designed and implemented a garment quality and composition assessment using NIR scanners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Man Met staff were supported by partners GMCA (access to HWRC sites, links to local waste authorities and support for a kerbside collection pilot), Textile Recycling Association (expert input to survey design and interpretation of results), SWD/Textile Recycling International group (access to sorting facility, professional sorters, NIR scanners and data on material flows and composition of non-reuseable textile (NRT) grades), Salford City Council (support for pilot kerbside collection of textiles, including drafting and distribution of fliers, door-to-door recruitment of participants and collection of filled bags) and SEUZ (GM Waste contractor, access to HWRCs and staff involvement in sample collection and delivery to SWD sorting operation) |
| Impact | Presentation of preliminary findings at the B2B mid-term event, University of Leeds, 25 Feb 2025 Abstract submitted to Textile World Conference, Portugal Oct 2025 |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Back to baselines: study of end-of-life textiles in Greater Manchester' |
| Organisation | Salford City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Manchester Met staff (Prof Paul Hooper Science & Engineering, Reader Barbara Shepherd Manchester Fashion Institute and students) designed and implemented a garment quality and composition assessment using NIR scanners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Man Met staff were supported by partners GMCA (access to HWRC sites, links to local waste authorities and support for a kerbside collection pilot), Textile Recycling Association (expert input to survey design and interpretation of results), SWD/Textile Recycling International group (access to sorting facility, professional sorters, NIR scanners and data on material flows and composition of non-reuseable textile (NRT) grades), Salford City Council (support for pilot kerbside collection of textiles, including drafting and distribution of fliers, door-to-door recruitment of participants and collection of filled bags) and SEUZ (GM Waste contractor, access to HWRCs and staff involvement in sample collection and delivery to SWD sorting operation) |
| Impact | Presentation of preliminary findings at the B2B mid-term event, University of Leeds, 25 Feb 2025 Abstract submitted to Textile World Conference, Portugal Oct 2025 |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Back to baselines: study of end-of-life textiles in Greater Manchester' |
| Organisation | Textile Recycling Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Manchester Met staff (Prof Paul Hooper Science & Engineering, Reader Barbara Shepherd Manchester Fashion Institute and students) designed and implemented a garment quality and composition assessment using NIR scanners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Man Met staff were supported by partners GMCA (access to HWRC sites, links to local waste authorities and support for a kerbside collection pilot), Textile Recycling Association (expert input to survey design and interpretation of results), SWD/Textile Recycling International group (access to sorting facility, professional sorters, NIR scanners and data on material flows and composition of non-reuseable textile (NRT) grades), Salford City Council (support for pilot kerbside collection of textiles, including drafting and distribution of fliers, door-to-door recruitment of participants and collection of filled bags) and SEUZ (GM Waste contractor, access to HWRCs and staff involvement in sample collection and delivery to SWD sorting operation) |
| Impact | Presentation of preliminary findings at the B2B mid-term event, University of Leeds, 25 Feb 2025 Abstract submitted to Textile World Conference, Portugal Oct 2025 |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Breaking the fashion habit: efficacy of education as a behavioural intervention. Development and pilot of workshop, focus group and questionnaire. |
| Organisation | University of Leon |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The School of Design research team is collaboration with the European Masters of Business Studies, University of Leon, Spain to identify patterns of overconsumption buying behaviour in UK and European fashion and textile consumers. The collaboration is ongoing but has successfully developed and conducted a pilot for the workshop, focus group and questionnaire among participants in the UK and Spain. Final workshops and focus groups will be conducted in Leeds and in France to collect data regarding purchasing behaviour. The research team is also collaborating with the Behaviour Lab, Leeds University Business School to facilitate recording and analysis of the Uk workshop and focus group. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team from the University of Leon has been instrumental in identifying the key issues of focus relating to habitual buying within the fashion sector. Fortnightly project meetings have been resulted in the development and testing of academically robust habit workshop material and questionnaire design. The collaboration is ongoing, and the University of Leon will facilitate the European workshop and focus group. |
| Impact | Development of and educational based workshop. Pilot study of research questionnaire and focus group in UK and Europe. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Consumer Tolerance to Colour Inconsistency for Sustainable Design |
| Organisation | John Smedley |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The collaboration has provided John Smedley with an additional viable solution to using its deadstock yarn. |
| Collaborator Contribution | John Smedley provided knitting yarn for research development |
| Impact | This project is midway through and there are no outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | IMPACT+ Launch Event - workshop participation (23-Jan-2024) |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Department | Northumbria School of Design |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Members of the B2B team attended the IMPACT+ launch event and took part in their planned workshop activities. Participants were Prof. Stephen Russell, PI B2B; Mike Morris, UoL commercialisation team; Sue Rainton, LITAC Associate Director; Alison Halsall, B2B Network Coordinator. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in planned workshop activities, providing expert input. |
| Impact | Collaboration across the Circular Fashion and Textiles Network Plus is still at an early stage, no formal outputs or outcomes to report as yet. A first follow on collaborative workshop, jointly organised by B2B Thematic Area Leader Effie Kesidou and IMPACT+ PI Alana James was held on 09-Feb-2024 however. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Participation in the IMPACT+ launch event |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Participation as B2B theme leader, attended the IMPACT+ launch event and took part in their planned workshop activities providing expert input. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They facilitated workshop activities, providing expert input. |
| Impact | Collaboration across the Circular Fashion and Textiles Network Plus is still at an early stage, no formal outputs or outcomes to report as yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Pilot Focus Group - Back to Baselines Mid-Point Event |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Department | School of Arts and Humanities |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Man Met and NTU jointly developed and delivered a pilot workshop to engage with UK fashion sector stakeholders and present questions relating to the thematic research areas of Man Met and NTU respectively. Specifically questions relating to skills gaps and the implementation of circular business models across the UK fashion and textiles sector were tested. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above. |
| Impact | The session produced pilot data, which is currently being analysed and used to refine the interview questions and format of future focus groups to be held in the coming months. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Stakeholder workshop on 'Generating Eco-Credential Standards.' |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Department | Northumbria School of Design |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I jointly organised with IMPACT+ PI Alana James a collaborative workshop, on 09-Feb-2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 'Eco-Standards in the UK Textile and Fashion Industry' Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles (B2B F&T) University of Leeds, NEXUS - 9th February 2024 -workshop title: 'Eco-Standards in the UK Textile and Fashion Industry' -workshop leader(s) names and affiliations: Prof. Effie Kesidou (Leeds University Business School) and Dr Alana James (Northumbria University) -a summary of the workshop aims and objectives: The aim of the workshop is to understand the relationship between the adoption of eco-standards and the environmental performance of the UK Textile and Fashion (T&F). The objectives cover various aspects of how companies engage with and implement eco-standards, as well as their advantages, disadvantages, and importance for improving environmental performance. The relevance of eco-standards in the global supply chain is also explored. The objectives are the following: 1. Engagement with Eco-Standards: Explore how companies in the UK T&F industry are currently engaging with eco-standards such as Higg MSI, WRAP, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001. 2. Implementation of Eco-Standards: Investigate the processes and methods through which eco-standards are implemented within the industry. 3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Eco-Standards: Examine the pros and cons associated with the adoption of eco-standards, considering factors such as sustainability benefits, business operations benefits, and market competitiveness benefits. 4. Importance for Environmental Performance: Assess the extent to which eco-standards contribute to improving the environmental performance of companies in the UK T&F industry. 5. Development/Improvement of Eco-Standards: Investigate how existing eco-standards can be developed or improved to enhance accuracy and transparency when measuring environmental performance. 6. Relevance in the Global Supply Chain: Explore the role of eco-standards in understanding and influencing the environmental performance across the global supply chain of the UK T&F industry. -methodology being used: The focus group discussion methodology is utilised. Specifically, the workshop will include three tables with different questions which will stimulate the structured discussion amongst the participants. Facilitators will lead the discussions. The primary goal is to gather insights about key aspects related to eco-standards and their impact on environmental sustainability within the textile and fashion industry. Participants will be encouraged to express their views, discuss and analyse these topics so as to gain insights into the current practices, challenges, and potential improvements in the adoption of eco-standards in the sector. The facilitators will keep notes; this data will be then analysed to in order to capture the collective view of the focus group. |
| Impact | Focus group notes are currently analysed. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Annual research meeting - Panel participation 'Standards and Baselines' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Annual Research Meeting will be the first dedicated occasion that brings together industry and academic partners from the funded projects, along with all Network Plus team members and project partners from IMPACT+, Back to Baselines, and Future Fibres Network+. It will provide an opportunity to showcase ongoing research activities, as well as share ideas, identify research synergies, and capture new insights from across the programme. It will offer a clear focus to ensure we are all working together to meet Network Plus objectives, as well as helping to clarify next steps for successful programme delivery and identifying future opportunities for collaboration. The Standards and Baselines panel session further discussed the Back to Baselines work and activity towards the Network Plus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B LinkedIn page |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The B2B LinkedIn page intends to engage with a wider audience and encourage further involvement and reach of the progress and news delivered across project development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/102625903/admin/dashboard/ |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA1 and TA2 joint workshop delivery and participation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The B2B Mid-Point Event took place to provide an update on the progress so far seen across Back to Baselines, with workshops provided to involve attendees from academia, industry and research and gather feedback and data to use for future work and further progress. The TA1 and TA2 joint workshop delivered information on what data the areas are looking to gather and encouraged networking and discussion on future scenarios. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA2 presentation update |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The B2B Mid-Point Event took place to provide an update on the progress so far seen across Back to Baselines, with workshops provided to involve attendees from academia, industry and research and gather feedback and data to use for future work and further progress. The presentation provided an update on overall TA2 progress and findings to date, along with future development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA3 presentation update |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a presentation alongside Professor Jane Harris on progress on thematic area three. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA3 presentation update |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Jane Harris and Dr Sheila Clark presented on progress in TA3, particularly on the development of new research methods and tools for 'assessing' innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA3 workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop delivered with Professor Jane Harris at the B2B midpoint event to a mixed audience of industry, business and academic members to collect data on sustainable innovation case studies being explored. To contribute to the innovation matrix and thematic area three for future work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Mid-Point Event - TA5 presentation update |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Liz Barnes, Jane Turnbull from Manchester Metropolitan University and Rachel Grey from WRAP presented updates and progress from the research area of Thematic Area 5 to fellow academic and industry stakeholders. They followed this by outlining the direction of future research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B Network Advisory Board (NAB) Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The NAB takes place quarterly to discuss B2B project progress and provide strategic advice to the Network Management Team on its current and future direction. The NAB comprises various members including both Network Co-Directors, the CEO of UKFT, senior representation from WRAP and other stakeholder groups (industry and NGOs: AW Hainsworth, Laxtons, TDSynnex, Burberry, WTJohnson, Yorkshire Textiles), as well as representation from the Programme Coordination Team (PCT) that oversees all three subnetworks (B2B, FFN, IMPACT) to disseminate discussion and advice for project improvement and development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | B2B Newsletter (monthly) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | B2B has a monthly newsletter that is published via the MailChimp media platform, to provide news updates on project progress; highlighting member contributions, aims and current progress, any related reports/publications from collaborations and partners of the network, upcoming events, news from across the sub-networks and overall PCT programme. These are shared on the B2B website and LinkedIn pages to achieve maximum reach and encourage/engage further involvement with the network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://backtobaselines.leeds.ac.uk/news/news/ |
| Description | B2B Sustainable Transition Fund Calls - Introductory meetings (x1 for each call) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | There were x2 Introductory Sustainable Transition Fund (STF) Project meetings hosted in December 2024 and February 2025 between the B2B network and the funded STF projects, where the invite was extended to any additional project members, as well as the Network Plus subnetworks. This called for presentations (5-10 mins) from each project lead to introduce their projects and update the meeting on progress and overall aims to benefit B2B and the Network Plus project as a whole. Q&A and open discussion was then held for networking and project synergies for further collaboration to take place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | B2B mid-point event - TA1 and TA2 joint workshop participation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The day included updates on projects undertaken so far with workshops to gather information and insights from participants (industry and academic). The TA1/2 workshop gave participants the opportunity to give insights to the project teams and also to network with others (I didn't know anyone in my group before the workshop event started, we had some meaningful conversations including disagreements that we had time to work through and provide greater insights on). This was a very effective way to capture expert opinions and should feed into a useful report. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | B2B updated website - launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The B2B website intends to engage with a wider audience to evidence the activity and news from across our project as and when it is delivered. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://backtobaselines.leeds.ac.uk/ |
| Description | BSI workshop: Standards: circular economy, sustainability and fashion/clothing (26/07/2024). Panel Member. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Agenda · Professor Martin Charter, Chair of UK Circular Economy committee: existing work in Circular standards · CEN Circular Economy/Design: the EU dimension · Views from industry, innovation and research · Workshop questions and discussion: 1. How you see European policy impacting on circularity of fashion, clothing and textiles businesses in the next 3 - 5 years, particularly in the areas of: § EPR § Waste and recycling § Ecodesign [ESPR] § Green claims § Other 2. How you see UK policy related to 1 above impacting on UK fashion, clothing and textiles businesses in the next 3 - 5 years? 3. What ISO, CEN or other standards are you aware of related to circularity of fashion, clothing and textiles? 4. What are the gaps/needs for standardisation related to circularity of fashion, clothing and textiles § Management § Technical e.g. materials, testing, etc? 5. For what other specific topics do you see there being a need for standardisation related to circularity of fashion, clothing and textiles? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/national-standards-body/ |
| Description | Back to Baselines - Sustainable Transition Fund - Call 1 (01-Mar-2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The funding call opened on 1st March and will close on 30th April 2024. This opportunity has been promoted via UKFT, WRAP, LITAC, FFF and all partner university networks. This funding is designed to stimulate network engagement and will lead on to collaborative project activity involving both academic and industrial network members. Call for Proposals to Address Evidence & Data Gaps in UK Fashion & Textiles Researchers, businesses and other organisations are invited to apply for funding to run targeted research projects that will provide new insights, evidence and data to help inform the current and future baseline position of sustainable practice in the UK's Fashion and Textile industry. The £700k Sustainable Transition Fund is being offered as part of Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles (B2B F&T) programme. This collaborative initiative brings together academic researchers from different academic disciplines, leaders of industry, and government bodies to assess current sustainable practices within the UK Fashion and Textile industry and establish a data-driven baseline, which will ensure future strategy is aligned with environmental targets. The two-year £2M project is being led by Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC), supported by the National Environment Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and Innovate UK. This engagement activity was picked up by a number of members of the network, URL from the UKFT news feed entered below, ecotextiles here https://www.ecotextile.com/2024030431770/fashion-retail-news/uk-announces-sustainable-fashion-funding-drive.html |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ukft.org/baselines-sustainable-transition-fundmarch24/ |
| Description | Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The launch Symposium ran throughout the day to establish the collaborative 'Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles' sub-network, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the circular fashion and textiles Network Plus programme. It brought together academic researchers from different disciplines, leaders of industry, and government bodies as part of a collaborative effort to establish comprehensive, scientifically validated, and well-evidenced environmental and design frameworks for the fashion and textile industry that will inform future decision-making. The Symposium reviewed the sustainability challenges faced by the industry, identifying current data and knowledge gaps, assessing progress to date, and exploring effective strategies to meet environmental sustainability targets, including the transition to viable circular economies. The Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles (B2B) sub-network will go on to establish an evidence base to support progress towards a sustainable future, compliant with mandated deadlines such as Net Zero, and is fully aligned with WRAP's Textiles 2030 initiative. The event also announced the details of a new £700K Sustainable Transition Fund (the sub-network's flexible Plus Pot) and associated calls for proposals, which will support short, targeted projects led by industry or academic researchers to provide new insights, evidence, and data to help inform future directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYtJFwDORLQDn-kaAmGy_czm5mP0wqIpFM8296OmLdnp1JJw/viewform |
| Description | Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles Launch Symposium (9th February 2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The launch Symposium ran throughout the day to establish the collaborative 'Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles' sub-network, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the circular fashion and textiles Network Plus programme. It brought together academic researchers from different disciplines, leaders of industry, and government bodies as part of a collaborative effort to establish comprehensive, scientifically validated, and well-evidenced environmental and design frameworks for the fashion and textile industry that will inform future decision-making. The Symposium reviewed the sustainability challenges faced by the industry, identifying current data and knowledge gaps, assessing progress to date, and exploring effective strategies to meet environmental sustainability targets, including the transition to viable circular economies. The Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles (B2B) sub-network will go on to establish an evidence base to support progress towards a sustainable future, compliant with mandated deadlines such as Net Zero, and is fully aligned with WRAP's Textiles 2030 initiative. The event also announced the details of a new £700K Sustainable Transition Fund (the sub-network's flexible Plus Pot) and associated calls for proposals, which will support short, targeted projects led by industry or academic researchers to provide new insights, evidence, and data to help inform future directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYtJFwDORLQDn-kaAmGy_czm5mP0wqIpFM8296OmLdnp1JJw/viewform |
| Description | Back to Baselines presentation, Munich (21-Mar-2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation around Net Zero transition for the fashion and textile sector, LITAC industrial network, ethos and how to get involved. Content includes outcomes from the Future Fashion Factory award and planned activity for Back to Baselines, specifically on how to engage via the Sustainable Transition Fund. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.performancedays.com/ |
| Description | Barbara Shepherd - Panel participation on 'Interdisciplinary Collaboration' at the Network Plus, Annual Research Meeting, Exeter. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | ~80 Network Plus members attended the Annual Research Meeting hosted at Exeter University, the first dedicated occasion that brings together industry and academic partners from the funded projects, along with all Network Plus team members and project partners from IMPACT+, Back to Baselines, and Future Fibres Network+. It provided an opportunity to showcase ongoing research activities, as well as share ideas, identify research synergies, and capture new insights from across the programme. It offered a clear focus to ensure we are all working together to meet Network Plus objectives, as well as helping to clarify next steps for successful programme delivery and identifying future opportunities for collaboration. The 'Interdisciplinary Collaboration' panel session provided opportunity for Barbara Shepherd to discuss their Back to Baselines Sustainable Transition Fund project work and contribution towards the Network Plus, as well as share their expertise with the panel members and audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Chaired a panel discussion at the Mid-Point Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Panel 1 of the Sustainable Transition Fund Panels, chaired by Dr Jo Conlon, brought together leading experts from academia and industry to discuss projects aimed at transforming sustainability in fashion and textiles. The discussion centred on key thematic areas: environmental target areas, eco-credentials, innovation, skills gaps, and influencing behaviours. I led the session, introduced the panelists, and guided discussions that addressed the establishment of baseline data and future opportunities. The purpose was to foster knowledge exchange and inform the sector's path toward sustainable practices and digital innovation. The discussion resulted in identifying aligned goals across projects, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and highlighting areas for future research and industry application. Early impacts include the potential for unified data standards, legislative mapping, and innovations in circular textile systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Dr Elizabeth Gaston - Sustainable Transition Fund project progress panel participation (B2B Mid-point Event) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | ~90 academic/industry/business members attended the B2B Mid-Point Event, which showcased progress across the x5 Thematic Areas, provided workshop sessions for data collection and attendee feedback, and an opportunity to network and further discuss project synergies. Dr Elizabeth Gaston has been funded a project as part of the B2B Sustainable Transition Fund, Call 2, titled: 'Consumer Tolerance to Colour Inconsistency for Sustainable Design', which was discussed on the expert panel, in relation to Thematic Area 5 which it contributes to. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Drapers Sustainability Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This is a predominantly industry/business event for the fashion and textiles sector organised by the leading trade press publication Drapers brings together c.300 senior executives from across the industry e.g. brands, retailers, SMEs and suppliers. Opportunity for networking, making connections with industry to become research participants/collaborators in Back to Baselines, to raise the profile of the Back to Baselines research project across the sector etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sustainablefashion.drapersonline.com/dsf2024/en/page/home |
| Description | Fashion Impact Narratives; a workshop to capture the impact on manufacture of decisions made elsewhere in the value chain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Stakeholders, specifically manufacturers in the fashion supply chain were invited to attend & contribute to the workshop through the B2B and IMPACT N+ project contacts. During the workshop industry partners in attendance provided examples of practices that occur regularly within industry supply chains that lead to waste and environmental impacts. These practices were collated in the form of narratives (to provide anonymity to businesses) and will provide a foundation to start to build data sets from to provide T1 with an initial evidence based over view of where small changes in behaviours across the value chain could drive "quick wins" in terms of environmental impact. The workshop methodology and data capture tool was designed by Dr Dawn Ellams, Royal College of Art and facilitated by the Network+ Back 2 Baselines Theme 1 leaders; Prof Phil Purnell from the University of Leeds, Dr Dawn Ellams from the Royal College of Art and Prof Parikshit Goswami from the University of Huddersfield. The workshop aimed to capture & quantify first hand narratives to communicate, from the perspective of manufacturers, examples where decisions / motivations made elsewhere in the value chain are driving wasteful and unsustainable practices for manufacturers. Following the workshop the T1 research team reviewed the practices identified to support understanding for who & motivations for decisions that drive wasteful practices by; - identifying a selection of the practices to develop into scenarios to be used to quantify environmental impacts, - identifying how small changes in behaviours across the value chain could drive "quick wins" in terms of environmental impact, - identifying longer term changes in behaviours across the value chain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Global Fashion Conference presentation, Bucharest, 11-12th October 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was provided which introduced the Network Plus in Circular Fashion and Textiles programme to an international audience. The presentation was a joint one with Dr. Dawn Ellams (RCA) who focused on Back to Baselines Thematic Area 1. Title: Meaningful Metric; interdisciplinary collaboration for the establishment of fair, impactful, and transparent metrics across fashion and textile value chains About the Global Fashion Conference 2024: In this conference, we welcome everyone engaged in the study and analysis of the fashion phenomenon - not only researchers from the academic world but, also innovative organisations and companies that work within the fashion system. People and Planet need Sustainable Fashion. Sustainability needs Innovation, GFC is built on the concept of a sectoral innovation system. The pluridisciplinary approach of the conference embraces the components of the system: Politics, International and National Law, Businesses and Entrepreneurial Initiatives, with a strong focus on R&D and New Technologies, Financial Systems and Education. From 2008 to 2018 GFC was held on a biannual basis partnering with a University that conducts research in fashion studies. From 2020 the conference is held every year. GFC is committed to developing all efforts in the diffusion of the work presented and that demonstrates a consistent scientific basis subject to peer review. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://gfc-conference.eu/ |
| Description | Host of Back to Baselines (B2B) Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Conference Host & Opening/Closing Presentations at the B2B Launch Event in Leeds (NEXUS) - 9th Feb |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/directory_record/1896/back-to-baselines-in-circular-fashion-and-textiles-est... |
| Description | IMPACT+ launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event itself was a network plus event with members of all 3 research grants related to fashion sustainability: Back to baselines, IMPACT+, Future Fibres. I attended as a member of the B2B team. We had panel discussions, presentations and opportunity for networking with Industry and academics from other institutions. This was a great way to meet people working in similar areas most of whom we had not yet met (being geographically remote meant that I do not regularly meet with colleagues from the midlands or London). Following the meeting in Newcastle I followed up with 3 people that I'd met at the event (and one later contacted me), we contributed to the research insights of two teams, applied for funding with an Industrial contact and am in active ongoing conversations with a forth person. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Myth Busting in Fashion & Textiles, a presentation by Dr. Mark Sumner (09-Feb-2024) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation at the Back to Baselines launch event by one of the B2B Network Experts Dr. Mark Sumner. The presentation focused on generally accepted statements that influence the perception of the fashion and textile sector globally but for which there is currently no validated data to support. Led on to discussion on how to improve this data & so provide evidence that could support Net Zero transition and improve public understanding and perception of fashion and textile processes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | PCT - Launch LinkedIn page |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Launch PCT LinkedIn page to amplify news from across subnetworks as well as general news from fashion and textiles sector. Launched in September 2024, until March 2025, the number of posts is ~40 posts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/network-plus-in-circular-fashion-and-textiles-programme-co-ordinati... |
| Description | PCT - Annual Research Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event offered the first dedicated occasion for all our sub-network team members from IMPACT+, Back to Baselines, and Future Fibres Network+ to come together, alongside our academic and industry partners from the plus pot projects. It helped to provide a clear focus to ensure we are meeting Network Plus objectives, clarify next steps for successful programme delivery, and identify opportunities for collaboration as we enter the final 12 months of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | PCT - Regular Subnetwork Meetings (Biweekly), 21 meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Biweekly meetings for the three Subnetworks to enhance the collaborations between the subnetworks, provide updates on the progress and discuss any potential issues or risks. Participants included Subnetworks Coordinators (IMPACT+, B2B and FFN+), PCT ECR Lead, PCT Evaluation Lead, PCT Administrative Assistant, PCT Communications and Events Officer, PCT Network Manager and LITAC Associate Director. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | PCT- Engagement workshop at PCT annual research meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This workshop identified key communications tools and channels to help maximise the dissemination of project partner work, including on overview of the new Knowledge and Information Portal and discussions around relevant conferences and events, publications, and social media outlets. There was also an introduction to the new Evaluation Toolkit that had been developed to help members of the Network Plus ensure the impact of their work can be measured. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | PCT- Network Plus Teams Channel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Microsoft Teams channel to facilitate and sharing resources and collaboration between Network Plus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | PCT- Strategic Advisor Board (SAB) Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The first PCT Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) is an independent group convened to integrate and synthesise industry, user and third sector views, ensuring alignment between the Network's research agenda and the knowledge exchange and impact activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | PCT- Talk at UKFT Sustainability Conference in September 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk was on PCT back to baseline in circular fashion and textiles outlining the whole Network Plus |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDxWb3hqNg8 |
| Description | PCt- Network talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Network Talks have been designed to enable a multidisciplinary team to learn about one another's work, identify differences and synergies, and help learn how to better communicate. By rolling these talks out across the wider Network Plus, featuring speakers from across the three sub-networks, the aim is to offer greater insight into our colleagues' work in order to help foster a stronger sense of cohesion and collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Panel Chair, Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles - Mid-Point Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles - Mid-Point Event presented current research findings & new data on the baseline position of the UK's fashion and textile industry across five thematic areas. Event description: The Back to Baselines (B2B) in Circular Fashion and Textiles Event brought together a large network of research and industrial organisations to review the UK's progress towards circularity and sustainable development. New findings and data were presented across five thematic areas, including environmental targets, eco-standards and metrics, innovation, skills, and cultures and behaviours. The event introduced multiple Sustainable Transition Fund projects involving industry and academic researchers that aim to fill current data and evidence gaps, as well as identify opportunities for ongoing development and future collaboration. Event overview: • Reviewed the latest findings in the B2B network across five thematic areas. • Discussed ongoing research activities that address fashion and textile industry data and evidence gaps, as well as opportunities for new collaborations. • Discussed the current baseline position of the industry and to identify priority areas for further development. • Workshop to collect data on the baselines position and potential future scenarios. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://backtobaselines.leeds.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Panel Chair, Back-to-Baselines session at the Network Plus researchers meeting, University of Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Annual Research Meeting was the first dedicated occasion that brought together industry and academic partners from the funded projects, along with all Network Plus team members and project partners from IMPACT+, Back to Baselines, and Future Fibres Network+. It provided an opportunity to showcase ongoing research activities, as well as share ideas, identify research synergies, and capture new insights from across the programme. It offered a clear focus to ensure all are working together to meet Network Plus objectives, as well as helping to clarify next steps for successful programme delivery and identifying future opportunities for collaboration. The Standards and Baselines session was introduced by: Prof Stephen Russell Professor of Textile Materials and Technology, University of Leeds Primary Investigator, Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles Chair Dr Hilde Heim Senior Lecturer, Deputy Division Head - Fashion communications, Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University. Lead Partner for Back to Baselines project: LEGI-STANDARDS: Data Standards, Legislation and DPPs: mapping the relationship between eco-credentials, legislation and digital supply chain solutions in the Textiles and Fashion industry Panel members 1) Dr Sarah Key, Senior Research Analyst, WRAP Project name: Displacement rate: ensuring consistency and robustness in avoided emission calculations for circular business models Funded by: IMPACT+ Summary: There is growing interest in the environmental impact of circular business models (CBMs) like resale and rental services, but opinions on their benefits remain mixed. To assess these impacts, it's crucial to understand the "displacement rate," which measures how much these alternative models prevent the purchase of new items. Quantifying this rate is challenging, as it involves determining if a second-hand purchase or rented item actually replaces a new purchase. Various organisations have tried to measure displacement, but methods have differed. WRAP has developed an impartial methodology to standardise this measurement across CBMs and align businesses around a consistent standard. This project aims to apply this methodology through case studies, promoting consistent and transparent emissions calculations and increasing trust in environmental claims within the sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ukri-circular-fashion-and-textile-programme-networkplus/ |
| Description | Panel member, Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles - Mid-Point Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles - Mid-Point Event presented current research findings & new data on the baseline position of the UK's fashion and textile industry across five thematic areas Event description: The Back to Baselines (B2B) in Circular Fashion and Textiles Event brought together a large network of research and industrial organisations to review the UK's progress towards circularity and sustainable development. New findings and data were presented across five thematic areas, including environmental targets, eco-standards and metrics, innovation, skills, and cultures and behaviours. The event introduced multiple Sustainable Transition Fund projects involving industry and academic researchers that aim to fill current data and evidence gaps, as well as identify opportunities for ongoing development and future collaboration. Event overview: • Reviewed the latest findings in the B2B network across five thematic areas. • Discussed ongoing research activities that address fashion and textile industry data and evidence gaps, as well as opportunities for new collaborations. • Discussed the current baseline position of the industry and to identify priority areas for further development. • Workshop to collect data on the baselines position and potential future scenarios |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://backtobaselines.leeds.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Panel participation, Back to Baselines session at Network Plus Researchers meeting, University of Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This meeting brought together academia and industry across the project network including project partners from IMPACT+, Back to Baselines, and Future Fibres Network+. During the conference a number of panels were held and Thematic Area 5 contributed to a panel discussing 'Knowledge and behaviours'. The panel was hosted by Martyn Lowder from WRAP, who was joined by Jane Turnbull from Manchester Metropolitan Unversity, Anne Peirson-Smith from Northumbria University, Tim Cross from Project PlanB, and Annet Dentith from Devon County Council. The panel shared items of clothing they felt demonstrated key discussion points relating to circularity, behaviour, skills and knowledge and developed a wide ranging discussion from there. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Participation and Presentation in B2B launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation with regard the Thematic Area which Adam Mansell, myself and Stella Claxton are leading - Skills Objectives: Investigate best practice in skills development to support the transition to a sustainable and circular fashion and textiles industry Identify skills gaps Test and model new approaches to harness interdisciplinary skills relevant to industry and other stakeholders 3 key areas: Industry / Professional Education Consumer |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation at stakeholder workshop B2B |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I am participated at a workshop focusing on skills that address sustainability in the T&F industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Penalty Zones and International Sustainability Standards |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Increasingly, sustainability standards are recognized as important tools for helping companies navigate the complex sustainability landscape. These standards help companies tackle their social and environmental challenges and serve as credible signals to stakeholders that they are doing the right thing, thus creating potential opportunities for the market to reward these companies. But what really happens when companies adopt multiple standards? Do companies' sustainability and market performance continue to improve? Not necessarily. Nicole Darnall, Kostas Iatridis, Effie Kesidou, and Annie Snelson-Powell's research shows that adopting multiple sustainability standards becomes "too-much-of-a-good-thing." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://sites.duke.edu/thefinregblog/2023/10/25/penalty-zones-and-international-sustainability-stand... |
| Description | Presentation and participation in B2B launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I am leading Thematic Area 2 on 'Generating Eco-Credential Standards.' In my presentation, I explained sustainability standards in general and sustainability standards in the F&T industry in particular. I emphasized the current challenges, which are related to the proliferation of standards, and presented evidence showing that sustainability standards generate environmental and economic benefits. I also focused on future challenges related to multiple sustainability standards and raised a key question: Are multiple sustainability standards beneficial?I concluded with a conceptual scenario analysis, attempting to provide a preliminary answer to this question. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Rethinking the Circular Economy, policy briefing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A policy briefing by MetroPolis that showcases Manchester Met's research in this area and also contains a number of policy recommendations to unlock the potential of the circular economy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://mcrmetropolis.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MMU2800-A4-Circular-Economy-Briefing-V5.pdf |
| Description | Seminar presentation at Arizona State University, School of Sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Although prior studies highlight the importance of standards for firm performance, little research has examined the role of multiple standards. Using insights from signaling theory and the resource-based view of the firm, this research examined whether firms that adopt multiple standards increase their export performance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHuCZmbSmg |
| Description | Stakeholder Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A New HE Skills Landscape for Circular Fashion and Textiles: Exploring the opportunities and challenges of aligning HE provision of circular fashion and textiles education with the industry needs Aim: To explore how HE can respond to the industry's need for accelerating the development of Knowledge and Skills in Sustainable and Circular F&T Themes: What graduate skills and knowledge are needed to support the design and development of sustainable and circular F&T? How well aligned are current graduate skills / knowledge in sustainable and circular F&T to the needs of the industry and where are the gaps? What opportunities are there for industry / academia to collaborate more effectively to support essential skills development for circular F&T, and what are the barriers? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Sustainable Transition Fund project progress panel presentation at the B2B Mid-Point Event -TA1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of a project funded by the Sustainable Transitions Fund describing the results of a garment sorting analysis focusing on quality for rewear and composition for downstream recycling. Debate with participants allowed the significance and relevance of the results for the development of UK end-of-life garment infrastructure to be established. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Sustainable Transition Fund project progress panels at the B2B Mid-Point Event -TA5 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Participation in a panel discussion facilitated by Dr. Sonja Andrew. Experts on the panel discussed key research findings and future research direction relating to customer and consumer behaviour in the fashion and textile sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | TA1 Theme Leader presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Outlining the key issues in TA1 - Creating Evidence Bases and Determining Environmental Target Areas. Uncovering some of the misconceptions around measuring and reporting the environmental impact of clothing, especially regarding uncertainty regarding the metrics and values used by some actors in the system. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Taking Fashion Further event and Robotics Living Lab launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University hosted its Taking Fashion Further event in conjunction with the media launch of its Robotics Living Lab opening event. The two day event included a poster presentation including one featuring Back to Baselines. Members of the project were then on hand during both the Taking Fashion Further day (an event designed to showcase MFI's work on both fashion and sustainability) and again during the media launch of the Robotics Living Lab to present their poster to University stakeholders, wider academic partners and the media and discuss the Back to Baselines project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Theme Area 3 Leader talk at B2B launch event 9th February 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was given covering the activities planned under Theme Area 3 for the Back2Baselines project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | UKFT 'Disrupting Manufacturing' webinar (26-Mar-2024). Panel Member. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Title: Episode 2 - 'Funding for Innovation & Implementing New Technologies' Date/Time: Tuesday 26th March @ 10:30-12:00 Panellists: Tony Boon - LLUK KTP Team - De Montfort University Sue Rainton - LITAC & Future Fashion Factory Main topics of discussion: (1) The UK's funding landscape for manufacturers, innovators and pioneers - what mechanisms are available. (2) How can businesses access funding for innovation development. (3) Working in partnerships with academia for innovation and implementation. (4) How can funding unlock potential for increased competitive advantage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ukft.org/disruptingmanufacturing-m2o/ |
| Description | UKFT Sustainability Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Keynote Presentation on navigating new fibres, their sustainability criteria and their practical application in UK manufacturing, compliant with a Net Zero future. Followed by a one-to-one panel discussion and Q&A. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ukft.org/sustainableuktextiles23/ |
| Description | Visible Fees and Extended Producer Responsibility |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation on the Network Plus B2B STF project dealing with the prospects for visible EPR fees on fashion and textile products in the UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkXYrJEsfNM |